Governor system



June 13, 1933. R. E. B. SHARP GOVERNOR SYSTEM Filed July 25, 1929 SuMPTxuK Gavezuo:

CUMULATOZ TANK IN VENT OR P015527 E 5211M 5w; CK SHARP BY- My? ATTORNEY Patented June 13, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oer-1C1:

ROBERT E. BRUNSWICK SHARP, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO I. P.

MORRIS AND 191-;- LA VERGNE, INC., A CORPORATION or DELAWARE 3 GOVERNOR SYSTEM Application filed July 25,

This invention relatesto a governing system and more particularly to one which is especially adapted for controlling a hydraulic turbine, although it will of course be understood that the system is applicable to the control of various types of prime movers employing certain of the elements shown herein or theirequivalents.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved system whereby the prime mover may be efficiently and safely controlled. In governing systems for hydraulic turbines forinstance, the turbine gates are usually operated or controlled by fluid pressure motors, preferably of the reciprocating piston type, fluid pressure being supplied from an accumulator tank in which the fluid is normally maintained above a given level and pressure. This pressure is maintained by a certain amount of compressed air in the top of the accumulator tank. In my present system the elements are so coordinated that the control ofthe gate operating motors is taken away automatically from the speed responsive governor when the liquid level in the accumulator tank has reached a predetermined low level after. which, in a further aspect of the invention, control of the gate operating motors is adapted to be effected by hand. h

This results in a high degree of safety of, operation in the governing system and turbine operation, for if the liquid level in the accumulator tank drops below the predetermined safety level the air in the tank is liable to discharge from the tank with the pressurefluid, thereby causing the gate operating motors to move faster than normal, since with the presence of air in the fluid system the motors are not positively controlled. This causes an uncertain governing action of the turbine with its attendant dangers of causing either water hammer in the penstock orexcessive, pressure rises thereinand in addition prevents the smooth governing action of the turbine which is highly desirable in maintaining a standard frequency.

While one object of my invention is to overcome the foregoing and other difiicul- 1929. Serial No. 380,800.

ties, further objects and advantages will be seen from the following description of the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig.1 is a diagrammatic view of the governor system, and V t Fig. 2 isan enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the accumulator tank;

In the illustrated specificembodiment of my invention there is shown a governor I which may be of any usual type, and which is herein disclosed as the type shown in the application of Kerr, Serial, No. 301,374, filed August22, 1928. This governor is suitably actuated by the speed of the prime mover such as a hydraulic turbine, so that when the speed exceeds a predetermined value fluid pressure flows from an accumulator tank 2 through pipe line 3 andout through line 4 in which 1 a Johnson type valve 5 is disposed. The line 4 connects into a pipe 6 which is connected to the opposite ends of gate operating cylinders 7 and 8, whereby the pistons incylinders 7 and 8 move respectively toward the left and right in order to close the gates, thereby reducing the turbine speed. During admission of fluid pressure to the gate operating cylinders fluid pressure is discharged from the opposite ends thereof through a pipe 9 which connects into a common pipe 10 leading to the governor l in which is also a Johnson valve 11. The fluid discharged through pipe 10 flows through pipe 12 to the sump tank 13 from which the fluid is pumpedby a pump 14 through a pipe line 15 into the accumulator tank 2 which is provided with an inlet 16.

If the turbine speed is below normal the reverse operation takes place in that fluid pressure is transmitted from the accumu-.

lator tank 2 through pipe lines 3, 10 and 9 to the .left and right ends of the gate operating cylinders 7 and 8 respectively during which time fluid is simultaneously discharged from. the opposite ends of these cylinders through pipe lines 6, 4 and 12 into the sump tank 13. A

As shown in Fig. 2 the inlet to pipe 3 is provided with a check valve having a ball float 17 adapted to close the-entranceof pipe 3 when the liquid level 18 reaches the predetermined low level as shown. The ball 17 is suitably guided by a slotted member 19 which permits free flow of the liquid from the accumulator tank 2 into the pipe 3. \Vhen the liquid level has reached the level as shown and the ball 17 is seated so as to prevent further discharge of the fluid from the accumulator tank into pipe 3 governor 1 automatically will no longer be able to' 1 a valve actuated by lever 29 for operating the Johnson valves 5 and 11; and, second, a valve actuated by a handwheel (not shown) for controlling the admission and exhaust of pressure fluid to and from the operating cylinders 7 and 8. The control valve 20 receives its supply of fluid pressure from the lowermost portion of the accumulator tank as by a pipe 21. When the hand lever 29 is thrown to one extreme position the Johnson valves 5 and 11, or any other suitable valves which may be con trolled by fluid pressure or otherwise, are automatically closed by the supply of fluid pressure from pipe 21 through pipes 25 and V 26, the fluid pressure acting within the usual internal chamber of the Johnson valve at the same time the fluid pressure in-the annular chambers of these valves is discharged through pipes 27 and 28 to the drain. If it c is now desired to open the turbine gates the Valve 20 is so set by its handwheel that fluid pressure flows from pipe 21 through apipe 22 which connects into 'pipe line 10 from which the fluid can flow through pipe line 9 to opposite ends of cylinders 7 and 8 thereby to open the gates during which time fluid is discharged from the other ends of these cylinders by way of the pipes 6 and 4 and pipe 23 through pipes 24 and 12 into sump 13. If it is desired to close the turbine gates by hand control the valve 20 will be so set by its handwheel that fluid flows from the accumulator 2 through pipes 21,23 and 6 into the right and left ends respectively of cylinders 7 and 8, while the opposite ends of these cylinders are discharging through pipes 9, 10, 22, 24: and 12 to the sump tank- 13.

When the normal liquid level in the accumulatortank has been restored, the operator can adjust hand valve 20 so as to reopen the valves 5 and 11 to permit the governor to again control the gate operating motors.

It is thus seen that inv my improved system the governor would normally control the gate operating motors, but that when the liquid level in the accumulator tank falls below its predetermined value for any cause such as leakage or the like the governor control is automatically discontinued thereby necessitating any further control to be etfected by hand. The necessity for hand control gives the operator warning that the liquid level is low and that care must be taken during hand control not'to permit the accumulator tank to be completely discharged, for then air would get into the pipe line 21 and into the system in general, thereby'causing the uncertain operation of the gate motors. However, the fact that hand control must be resorted to is sufiicient warning to the operator that care must be taken and, in any event, even if air should improperly get into the system during hand control there would not be the same disturbing results as during governor control, for the operator would at all times have control of the situation through hand operation.

From another aspect of the invention the functional relation between the speed governor and accumulator tank is one of having a variable supply of liquid automatically variably controlled by means, specifically the governor, which normally is beyond manual control, this relationship being coordinated with means, specifically the valve 17, which terminates said relation automatically upon occurrence of a predetermined condition in said tank. In a further aspect of the invention the accomplishment of this result permits other means to then be rendered operative for effecting further control of-a control valve such as the turbine gates, or viewed in still another aspect the accomplishment of said result permits means to be rendered operative for further variably controlling said liquid supply, such means in the specific aspect of the invention as disclosed herein being. the manual control of the turbine gates. My improved arrangement also functions in a manner such that the'liquid in the accumulator acts in the capacity of a means to transmit a force for operating the gates, this force being created by a suitable power medium specifically the air pressure in the tank. Thus it is seen that when the force transmitting means reaches a predetermined position in its operation, means become automatically operative to interrupt said means whereupon further means are then adapted to function to permit said force to be rendered further operative. Of course .in the more specific aspects of the invention the power medium is .indirectly variably controlled by a, speed governor which is rendered inoperative upon occurrence of the automatic operation whereupon further control of the power may be effected manually. It is also to be understood that my improved arrangement has the further functional relation between the gates and power mechanism, such as the accumulator tank with its liquid and air pressure, of permitting the gates to operate through their entire range of operation while under certain conditions the power mechanism is adapted to have a limited range of operation. That is, in the specific aspect of the invention as disclosed herein the limited range of operation is caused a when, the fluid is:automat1cally interrupted or terminated by the check valve arrangement.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination in a governor system for a prime mover comprising a liquid operated motor adapted to control the prime mover, a governor for controlling the liquid for said motor, an accumulator tank containing the pressure liquid which is supplied to said motor, a hand operated valve mechanism for also controlling thesupply of pressure liquid to said motor, and means for terminating governor control automatically when theliquid level in the accumulator tank reaches a predetermined level whereupon further controlis adapted to be eiiected by said hand operated valve.

2. The combination in a governor system comprising a liquid operated motor for controlling a prime mover, a receptacle containing liquid under air pressure, means for supplying pressure liquid from said receptacle to said motor, means for automatically terminating said supply when the liquid level reaches a predetermined level, and a hand control valve mechanism adapted to effect further supply of fluid from said receptacle to said motor upon occurrence of said automatic termination of the othersupr a.

3. The combination in a governor system comprising a liquid operated motor for 0011- taining liquid under air pressure, means for supplying pressure liquid from said receptacle to said motor, means for automatically terminating said supply when the liquid leve1 reaches a predetermined level, and a hand control valve mechanism adapted to effect further supply of liquid from said receptacle to said motor upon occurrence of said automatic termination of the other supply, both of said controls having operating ele ments common to each other.

4. The combination in a governor system for controlling a hydraulic turbine having a liquid actuated gate operating motor, comprising an accumulator tank for containing the actuating liquid under air pressure, a

vgovernor for controlling supplyiof actuating liquid from said accumulatormto said gate motor, a hand controlled valve mechanism also adaptedto control the supplyzof liquid from said accumulator totsaid motor, and means wherebywhen the liquid level in said accumulator is at a a predetermined level said hand control must be operated ifit is desired toeactuateisaidmotorr a 1 .5, a

*5. Thecombination in a governor system for a prime mover having a liquidactuated motor for controllingthe prime move-rcomprising an accumulator tank for containing liquid under air pressure, means for supply ing said pressure liquid to said motor, a. check valve adapted to prevent further supply-of liquid froinsaidaccumulator to said motor when the liquid level in the accumulator has reached a predetermined low level,

and means whereby a supplemental liquid supply fronrsaid accumulator to said motormay be established upon theitermination of said other supply. 1

6. The combination in a governing system for a prime moverhaving a liquidoperated motor for controlling the samecomprising an accumulator tank containing liquid under air pressure, a plurality of sup:- ply means between said accumulator tank and motor, and means whereby when the liquid level in said accumulator tank reaches a predetermined lowlevel one of said supply means is automatically discontinued and the other supply means is adapted to be placed inoperation. Q y

I r 7. The combination in a governing system for a prime mover having aliquid operated motor for controlling the same comprising an accumulator, tank containing liquid un- ,Cler air! pressure, a plurality of supply means between said accumulator tank and motor, and means whereby when the liquid level in said accumulator tank reaches a predetermined low level, one of said supply means, is automatically discontinuedand the other supply means is adapted to be placed in operation, one of said supply means havinga governor control therefor and ?the other a hand control. v i

8. The combination in agovernorsystem forcontrolling a hydraulic-turbine having a -liquid actuated gate operating' vmotor, comprising an accumulator tank for containing the actuating liquid under pressure, a speed responsive governor for said prime mover adaptedto control the supply of actuating liquid from said accumulator to said gate motor, a hand controlled valve mechanism also adapted to control the supply of liquid from said accumulator to said motor, and means whereby when the liquid level in said accumulator is at a predetermined level the communication from the accumulator tank to said governor is automatically shut off while the hand controlled valve mechanism remains operative to effect further operation of said gate operating motor.

9. The combination in a governor system for a prime mover, comprising a fluid operated motor and means operated thereby for controlling said prime mover, a variable supply of fluid for said motor, means for variably controlling said supply automatically in accordance with the prime mover speed, means for terminatingsaid variable control automatically upon occurrence of a predetermined condition of said supply, and

'meansadapted when said automatic termination takes place to of said prime mover.

10. The combination in a governor system for a prime mover, comprising a fluid operated motor and means operated thereby for controlling said prime mover, a variable supply of fluid for said motor, means for variably controlling said supply automatically in accordance with the prime mover speed, means for terminating said variable control automatically upon occurrence of a predetermined condition of said supply, and means adapted when said automatic termination takes place to permit further control of said prime mover by pressure fluid supplied from said variable supply.

11. The combination in a control system for a member to be controlled comprising, a pressure fluid operated motor, a variable supply of pressure fluid for said motor, means for variably controlling said supply and being normally beyond manual control, means whereby said variable control of said supply is terminated automatically upon occurrence of a predetermined condition associated With said supply, and means adapted upon occurrence of said automatic termination to effect further control of said member to be controlled.

12. The combination in a governor system for a prime mover having valve'mechanism for controlling the speed thereof, comprising actuating means for said valve mechanism, means whereby said valve mechanism and the actuating means therefor are adapted to operate through substantially their entire range under certain conditions of operation while'under other conditions of operation said means has provision whereby the range of operation of the actuating means is interrupted, and- "means whereby after said interruption said valve mechanism is adapted to be further actuated.

ROBERT E. BRUNSWICK SHARP.

permit further control 

